Traveling block and connector



G. D. JOHNSON TRAVELING BLOCK AND CONNECTOR June 22, 1954 :ssheets-sheet 1 Filed June 13, 1950 TRAVELING BLOCK AND CONNECTOR FiledJune l5, 1950 Sheets-Sheet 2 E 1 y 46 47 ijg 35 17 je l' I H lll l 4e 454a 9J.. "Qz "152 ...L9

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\ INVENTOR.

G25/wv z'o/-f/vswf, 4 By June 22, 1954 G. D. JoHNsoN 2,681,794 TRAVELINGBLOCK AND CONNECTOR Filed June 13, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ll l INVENTOR.LEN/v .0. ZfOHA/SOM BY 60152 .619 J6 56a 57 60 5g Mur/ rToe/VEY.

Patented June 22, 1954 'TRAVEIING BLOCK AND CONNECTOR Glenn D. Johnson,Compton, Calif., assignor to Baash-Ross Tool Company, Los Angeles,Calif.,

a company of California Application June 13, 1950, Serial No. 167,836

(Cl. 25d- 192) 11 Claims. l

The present invention relates to elevator devices, and more particularlyto traveling blocks 'and' connectors especially useful on well drillingor production rigs.

An `object of the 4present invention is to provide a traveling `blockand connector, or traveling block and hook assembly, that has acomparativelyshort `over-all vertical length for the load carryingcapacity of the assembly, thereby permitting use of the assembly, withfacility, on short derricks and Adrilling masts.

Affurther object of `the invention is to provide a telescopicarrangement of a traveling block and 'associated connector unit, therebymaterially lshortening the over-al1 length of the assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined traveling blockand swivel, in which the swivel is telescoped or piloted into the blockhousing, for the purpose of materially shortening the over-al1 length ofthe assembly.

Yet another object of the invention is to greatly increase the .loadcarrying capacity of a traveling block having a cast frame or outerhousing. In a more limited sense, this objective contemplates therelieving of the cast housing of substantially al1 of the thrust or loadbeing transmitted between the various parts of the traveling block andan associated connector unit, which unit may have elevator ears forsupporting elevator links, or which may include a hook, or both.

A further object of the invention is to provide a traveling. blockassembly possessing maximum compactness .and strength, and which isstreamlined by avoiding or minimizing the presence of projecting partsand .sharp edges `or corners.

Still a .further object of the invention is to Yprovide afcombinedtraveling bloc-k; and associated connector unit, in which the latterVconstitutes a closure for .the lower end of the block frame or housing.

Another -object` of the invention is to provide for the addition ofweight, if desired, to a travelying block assembly, without aiiecting oraltering its external dimensions.

Yet another object of the invention is .to provide a guard arrangementin a traveling block for the sheaves and line, which enables the line tobe threaded around the sheaves without necessitatingremoval ofthe guard.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined and compactassembly of a traveling block and connector' unit, in which the lattercan abe `easily disconnected from, or assembled to, the traveling blockportion of the assembly, and which 2 allows the line to be threadedreadily through the block without detaching the connector unit from it.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a formin which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will nowbe described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention; but it is to be understood that suchdetailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since thescope of the invention is best dened by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the apparatus, on an enlargedscale, with parts in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken along the line lm-4 on Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken along the line 5-5 on Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken along the line 6 5 on Fig. 4,;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken along the line l-1 on Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the lower cowling with the guard plateremoved;

Fig. 9 is a cross-section taken along the line 9--9 on Fig. 3; and

Fig. l0 is a vertical section taken along the line lll-I0 on Fig. 3.

As disclosed in the drawings, a traveling block A and connector B, orcombined hook and link support, are operatively secured to one another,to be supported from the usual crown block of a suitable derrick ordrilling mast by a wire or other flexible line C. For the purpose ofshortening the over-all vertical length of the assembly, the connectorunit B is telescoped into the block portion A of the device. Thearrangement is such that the connector unit actually forms a lowerclosure for the block portion.

A plurality of sheaves Ill is arranged in side by side relation withinthe upper frame, shell or casing Il of the block. This shell or casingis of streamlined shape and is usually made Aof cast steel. It isdesired to avoid imposing any of the load carried by the wire line onthe cast steel housing or shell Il, since such castings are of lesserstrength than rolled or forged structural elements. Instead, the load istransmitted between the sheaves III and the connector unit B through apair of opposed side plates I2, I3, that may be made of rolled steel,the plates iitting Within recesses I4 in the inner side walls l5, I5 ofthe upper frame II. The plates I2, I3 are preferably secured to theseside Walls of the frame by welding material Il.

A center pin I8 extends between the plates I2, I3. One end of the pin isreceived within a two-piece collar i9 fitting within a hole 20 in oneside plate I2, and having an inwardly directed flange 2l received withina peripheralrpin groove 22. The split or two-part collar i also has anoutwardly directed flange 23 engaging the outer surface or the plate I2.This end of the pin and the collar i9 are disposed within a suitablehole 24 in one side wall I5 of the cast frame, the pin I8 preferablyterminating inwardly of the external surface of such wall, to avoid aprojecting element.

The other end of the center pin extends through a clamp ring 25 disposedin a hole 26 in the other side plate I3. This clamp ring abuts the innerrace 2'! of a tapered roller bearing assembly 23, the outer race 29 ofwhich is disposed within a sheave I9. There is one bearing assembly 2Sfor each of the sheaves, which are arranged in side by side relation, sothat all of the bearing assemblies can be secured between .the clampring 25 and the center pin collar I9. Such clamping or securing actionoccurs as the result of tightening a clamp nut 39 on the threaded end ofthe center pin that bears against the clamp ring 25, the nut beingprevented from loosening or unthreading by a suitable lock plate 3|projecting into one of the peripheral notches 32 inthe nut and securedto the side plate I3 by one or more cap screws 33. The threaded end ofthe pin I8, nut 30, lock plate 3l and cap screws 33 are located in ahole 34 in the frame wall I6, and also do not project beyond the outersurface of this wall, to avoid projecting elements.

The side plates I2, i3 depend from the center pin I8 and disposed withinthe depending skirt portions or sides l5, I6 of the cast frame I I. Thelowermost ends 35 of the front and back portions 35, 31 of the castframe II terminate substantially in a horizontal plane including theaxis oi' the center pin I8. There is thus provided a substantial openingaround the bottom of the cast shell II which is closed by the coninector unit B.

The connector unit includes a lower housing, frame or Cowling 38 havingcurved outer end walls 3S, 4D, which converge in convex fashion towardeach other in a downward and inward direction, their lower ends beingintegral with a generally cylindrical inner wall 4I extending upwardlyfrom the ends of the outer walls and merging into a central boss 42. Theend walls 39, 45 and inner wall 4I, as well as the boss 42, are integralwith opposed side walls 43, and also with aligned center ribs 44extending between the end walls 39, 40, on the one hand, and the innerwall 4I and boss 42, on the other hand. The spaces 45 between thevarious walls, boss and ribs provide pockets in the lower frame orCowling 38, which pockets may be placed in communication with each otherby providing one or more holes 46 through the ribs 44.

The lower frame or Cowling 33 is designed to fit between the side platesl2, i3 and depending skirts I5, I6 of the upper frame il, and is alsoarranged to extend around the lower portions of the sheave I9, tocomplete the enclosure for the latter. Thus, the side walls 43 of thecowling are disposed adjacent the side plates I2, I3 and skirts I5, I5,whereas the outer end walls 39, 49 extend upwardly to bridge the spacebetween the depending skirts I5, IS and engage the iront and backportions 3B, 31 of the upper frame II. In order to insure a properrelationship between the upper and lower housing parts II, 39, the upperportions 451 of the end walls 39, 59 may overlap lips 41 depending fromthe upper frame.

The side walls 43 of the cowling, its center ribs 44, and the upper endof the central boss 42 are arcuate in shape, conforming to the curvatureof the sheaves Ii), but being spaced therefrom by a slight amount. Suchspacing is preferably kept to a minimum, in order to minimize thelengthA of the entire assembly. An arcuate guard plate 48 is disposedalong the top ends of the side walls 43, center ribs 44 and boss 42, andis suitably welded thereto, in order to prevent interference with theline C as it passes around the sheaves I9. This arcuate guard platepreferably has holes 497therethrough communicating with the Cowlingpockets 45, and a central hole 50 for enabling the stationary swivel pin5I of the connector unit to be appropriately assembled in place.

The lower frame or cowling 38 is firmly attached to the rolled steelside plates I2, I3 by a plurality, such as a pair, of coupling pins 52extending transversely throughl these side plates I2, I3 and through thecentral boss 42 on opposite sides of the stationary swivel pin 5I. Eachcouplingr pin lits snugly through holes 53 in the side plates, andthrough an aligned hole 54 in the boss. Each coupling pin 52 has a. head55 located within a hole 55 in the upper frame skirt I5 and bearingagainst the exterior of the plate i2. The other end of the pin 52extends into a hole 56a in the other frame skirt I5, and is threaded forreception of a suitable nut 5'I, which is tightened against the exteriorof the opposite plate I3. Loosening of this nut 5'I may be prevented bya suitable locking device, which may take the form of a plate 58extending into one of the notches 59 in the periphery of the nut, theplate 58 itself being secured to the frame skirt l5 by a plurality ofcap screws 6U.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that the lower cowling 38forms a closure for the upper frame or shell I l, and that such lowercowling is rmly and rigidly attached to the side plates I2, I3 by thecoupling pins 52, the side plates, in turn, carrying the center pin I8on which the sheaves I9 are rotatably mounted. In order to complete thestreamlining of the unit, lobes 6I may project outwardly from the` sides43 of the Cowling, such lobes extending from the lower ends of thesesides, with their outer surfaces 62 diverging and merging smoothly intothe external surfaces of the upper frame skirts I5, I6. The lobes 6Iterminate immediately below the lower ends of the skirts and the sideplates, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4.

The connector unit B disclosed in the drawings includes theaforementioned stationary swivel pin 5I, which extends upwardly throughthe inner wall 4I of the lower frame 38, and through a central verticalbore G3 in the central boss 42. The upper end of the vertical pin 5i iscarried by the central boss through the agency of a two' part, or split,lock collar 54, which rests upon a shoulder 55 formed by an upperenlargement 83a of the bore 63. The collar has an inwardly directedflange 56 tting within a peripheral groove 6l in the pin 5I, in order totransmit the 5 downward load onh the pin 51| throughstheicollar 64totheboss shoulder-.65.

The pin 5| d'epend's'fronrthe boss and terminates in a head 68 `a`substantial distance below the lower end ofthe inner `wall 4| and outerend walls 35, 4U of the cowlingt.` This pin forms the stationaryelement` oi"` a swivel,` the rotatable or` turning element of which, maybe formed as a hook 6g. This latter part includes a lower hook housing lextendingrupwardly around the pin iV and threaded onto anupper hookhousing 1| projecting intozthe inner wal-l `4| of the cowling.`This'iupper housing terminates in a thrust head 1,2` that isengiageable,with the lower end ofthe central boss `42;. Suchfem gagement iseffected, under comparativelylight or substantially zero load conditionsimposedon the hook, by outer and inner helical springs 13, 14 whoseupperends bear upon the thrust head 12, and Whose lower ends bear upon-a`thrust plate 15 resting against a suitable thrust bearing' 16, which is,in turn, supported upon lthe stationary swivel pin head 68. It is`apparent .that the upper and lower hook housings 10, 1| may turnrelative to the stationary pin 5| with substantial freedom, in View ofthellower thrust bearing 16.

Theinner and outer springcarrangement 14, 13 presents a relative shortor compact unit for holding the hookhousing 1U, 1| `in an upwardposition under certain conditions. As load is imposed upon the hook 69,the springs 13., 14 are compressed ,until `the thrust head. 121 engagesthe upper end of a stop and' thrust sleeve 11 disposed around theVswivel pin 5| and resting uponthe thrust-plate 15. Usually, theaspringsexert only sullicient force to ai'din the,` elevation of a stand ofpipe, as it is being unscrewed from a lower section of pipe supportedinthe rotary tableiof the rig. Greaterloads result a downward pulling ofthe hook housing ;,1I'` and en*-A gagement of the thrust head 12` withthe thrust sleeve 11, for the purpose of' transmitting the load solidlythrough the thrust plate and thrust bearing 16 tothe pin. head 68,rwhere the load passes through thepin 5| andfdivided lock collar 64 tothe boss 42- of the cowling. From this boss, the load is transmitted`through the coupling pins 52 to the side plates IZ, I3, and from theselatter members through the `center pin I8 to the sheaves I3 and- `lineC-..

The lower swivel unit illustrated` in' the drawe ings is designed tosupport both elevator `links (not shown) and a swivel bail (not shown)-simultaneously. The elevator links can be i carried by ears 1tprojecting outwardly fromthe sides of the lower hook housing 1t, theselinks being prevented from inadvertent removal by link gates 19. Thelower ends of the gates arepivotally mounted on pins BD carried bytheears 1.8; and the upper ends` are secured bysuitablefscrews 8| to lugs.82 projecting from the lower hook housing.

The swivel bail (not shown) is carriedi bythe hook portion 83 of theunit, whichtdepends; from the lower housing 1i),` and has a latch bodydpivoted on a hingeI pin Brsecured to. thev hook, the body extendingacross theI hook opening.. This body is prevented fromswingingwoutwardlyby a suitable latch 36 mounted on aI latch pin 81, and adapted to engagea, lock plate or insert 88 welded to the hook body 83. This latchr S6 isurged towards its locking positionby aspring 89 tting within a socket90, in the latch body and pressing against `aplunger 9| which; engagesthelatch 86.

The arcuate guard' plate 48 notonly protects the.l sheaves I0 andtheline C from interference withv the connector'unit- B therebelow,butyit 'also serves as a gui'deff'or threading the li-nethrough theopenings 92 in the upper frame andl around the sheaves, therebyobviating the need for dis-- mantling the apparatus; However, ifsuchthreading is not to be performed without dismantling the connector unit`B from the upper housing ll, it is a simple matter to remove the twocoupling pins 52 and lower the cowling 3B, with all ofthe parts attachedthereto, `from the upper` housing, which then exposes the underside ofthe sheaves Ill-and enables the line C to be threaded appro.-

' priately around the sheaves.

The connector unit B; in elect, is telescoped or piloted upwardly"within the block frame: lil to` a pointv immediately adjacent thesheaves l0, which enables-the ent-ire assembly to have-a much lesserover-all length than was heretofore possible. Such decrease in over-alllength is further enhanced by the upward telescoping or piloting of theswivel into the-cowling or lower framel 38; and also by the piloting ofthe hookhousing 10, 1l into the lower frame 38. Despite such pilotingand consequent compact arrangement; the hook is still capable ofswiveling freely through 360 degrees, and the springs 13, 14- associatedtherewith are still capable of facilitating u-nscrewing of a stand ofpipe, orother objects, from the pipe supported in; theA rotary table.

All loadsY are transmitted through the'i side plates |2; I3 ofthedevice, and not through the oast'steell upper frame or-shell I. As anresult, the outer shell `orl housing of the device Ca-ncbo fullystreamlined, so` as to avoidl projections. that may'tend to hang upor-interfere withotherparts usually present in and` around rigs. Whilethe lowencowling 38 is,` a casting; it possessesfsub-` stantialstrength, since the loadis transmitted through `the comparatively thickboss 42 to the coupling `pins 52, that are, in turn, supported bythefrolledsteel sideplates l2, |3. The sidewalls 43,-V center ribs 44andiouter end walls 39, 40 of the cowling or lower housing- 38 are notrequired to` carry any portion of the load, and readily adaptthemselvesto -a casting operation to produce astreamlined form.

The-diminished over-all lengthofthetravelingblock and'connector unit`combination is ac-` companied by a decrease in weight. At times, it maybedesirable to have the entireAv assemblage weighmore,V and this is`readily accomplished in the-present instance by disposing weightingmaterial in the pockets. 45* providedV in the' lower housingj. As anexample, leadcan be poured through the guard plate holes 49. into thepockets 45,the'volume of thepocketsbeing quite exten sive and capable ofreceiving a substantial weight of lead. The lead willbe retained inplace, since `itiwill flow, when in a molten1 state, through the rib.holes 46, from one-pocket to the. adjacent pocket, thereby1 integratingand locking thecontents ofthe pockets toone another.

In the manner just described, additional weight may he added to the.Vblock` and connector unit assembly without interfering4 with. theopera,v tionlofl any of its parts and without increasing. thef'size4 ofthe devicein any particular.

The inventor claims:

1. In apparatus` ofthe characterv described; anupper; housing; asupporting member within and. carried `by said housing; sheavesrotatable onA saidsupporting member; a lower housingsecured to saidupperhousing and closing the lower portiono'i' said upper housing, saidlower housing having one or more pockets thereinadapted to containweighting material; load supporting means carried by and depending fromsaid lower housing; generally arcuate guide means on said vlower housingconforming to and cl-osely adjacent the lower peripheral portions ofsaid sheaves, said guide means having one or more openings thereincommunicating with said one 'or more pockets.

2. In apparatus of the character described: an upper housing; asupporting member within and carried by said housing; sheaves rotatableon said supporting member; a lower housing secured to said upper housingand closing the lower portion of said upper housing, said lower housinghaving one or more pockets therein adapted to contain weightingmaterial; load supporting means carried by and depending from said lowerhousing; and means providing access to said 'one or more pockets. 3. Inapparatus of the character described: a housing; a supporting memberwithin and carried by said housing; sheaves rotatable on said supportingmember; load supporting means carried by and depending from saidhousing, said housing having one or more pockets therein adaptedv tocontain weighting material; and means providing access to said one ormore pockets for the introduction `of the weighting materialtherewithin.

4. In apparatus of the character described: an upper cast housing havingcurved front and back walls and side walls depending substantially belowsaid front and back walls; opposed side plates disposed within andsecured to said side walls; a pin extending between and carried by saidplates; sheaves rotatable on said pin; a lower housing extendingupwardly between the side walls of said upper housing and having endwalls termihating adjacent the lower ends of said front and back walls,said lower housing having one or more pockets therein adapted to containweighting material; generally arcuate guide means on said lower housingconforming to and closely adjacent the lower peripheral portions of saidsheaves, said guide means having one or more openings thereincommunicating with said one or more pockets; coupling pins securing saidlower housing to said plates; a stationary pin extending upwardly intosaid lower housing between said coupling pins; means supporting saidstationary pin by said lower housing; and load supporting meansextending upwardly into said lower housing, said load supporting meansbeing rotatably carried by said stationary pin.

5. In apparatus of the character described: an upper cast housing havingcurved front and back wallsand side walls depending substantially belowsaid front and back walls; opposed side plates disposed within andsecured to said side walls; a pin extending between and carried by saidplates; sheaves rotatable on said pin; a lower housing extendingupwardly between the side walls of said upper housing and having endwalls terminating adjacent the lower ends of said front and back walls,said lower housing having one or more pockets therein adapted to containweighting material; generally arcuate guide means on said lower housingconforming to and closely adjacent the lower peripheral portions of saidsheaves, said guide means having one or more openings thereincommunicating with said one or more pockets; coupling pins securing saidlower housing to said plates; a stationary pin extending upwardly intosaid lower housing between said coupling pins", Ysaid 'stationary pinhaving a head; a split collar engaging said stationary pin and lowerhousing to support said stationary pin from said lower housing; a loadsupporting enclosure extending upwardly into said lower housing andencompass# ing said stationary pin; and rotatable means for transmittingthe load on said enclosure to said head,

6. In apparatus oi the character described: a one-piece upper framehaving curved front and back walls and side walls dependingsubstantially below said front and back walls; a pin extending betweenand carried by said side walls; sheaves rotatable on said pin; aone-piece lower frame extending upwardly between said side walls andhaving end walls terminating adjacent the lower ends of said front andback walls and portions between said end walls terminating adjacent thelower ends of said side walls; the upper portion of said lower framehaving generally arcuate guide means thereon conforming to and lyingclosely adjacent the periphery of said sheaves; means rigidly andimmovably securing said lower frame to said upper frame; a stationaryswivel pin carried by and depending from said lower frame; a swivelmember surrounding and movable longitudinally of said swivel pin; andspring means surrounding said swivel pin and bearing upon a lowerportion of said swivel pin and an upper portion of said swivel member.

'7. In apparatus of the character described: a one-piece upper framehaving curved front and back walls and sidewalls depending substantiallybelow said front and back walls; a pin extending between and carried bysaid side walls; sheaves rotatable on said pin; a one-piece lower frameextending upwardly between said side walls and having end wallsterminating adjacent the lower ends of said front and back walls andportions between said end walls terminating adjacent the lower ends ofsaid side walls; the upper portion of said lower frame having generallyarcuate guide means thereon conforming to and lying cl'osely adjacentthe periphery of said sheaves; means rigidly and immovably securing saidlower frame to said upper frame; a stationary swivel pin carried by anddepending from said lower frame; a swivel member surrounding said swivelpin and extending upwardly into said lower frame; and spring meanssurrounding said swivel pin and bearing upon a lower portion of said;swivel pin and an upper portion of said swivel member.

8. In apparatus of the character described: a one-piece upper framehaving curved front and back walls and side walls dependingsubstantially below said front and back walls; a pin extending betweenand carried by said side walls; sheaves rotatable on said pin; aone-piece lower frame extending upwardly between said sidewalls andhaving end walls terminating adjacent the lower ends of said front andback walls and portions between said end walls terminating adjacent thelower ends of said side walls; means extending through said side wallsand upwardly extending portion of said lower frame in a directionparallel to the axis of said pin for securing said lower frame to saidupper frame; and load supporting connector device closing the lowerportion of said housing; means extending through said side members andconnector device parallel to the axis of said supporting member forsecuring said housing and connector device together; the upper portionof said device being generally arcuate to conform to the periphery ofsaid sheaves and lying closely adjacent said sheaves along the lowerportion of said sheaves to provide a guide facilitating threading of aflexible line around said sheaves.

10. In apparatus of the character described: a one-piece upper framehaving curved front and back walls and side walls dependingsubstantially below said front and back walls; a pin extending betweenand carried by said side walls; sheaves rotatable on said pin; aone-piece lower frame extending upwardly between said side walls andhaving end walls terminating adjacent the lower ends of said front andback walls and portions between said end walls terminating adjacent thelower ends of said side walls; means extending parallel to said pin andthrough said side walls and upwardly extending portion of said frame forrigidly and immovably securing said lower frame to said upper frame; astationary swivel pin disposed within, carried by and depending fromsaid lower frame; and a swivel member extending upwardly within saidlower frame and surrounding and movable longitudinally of said swivelpin.

1l. In apparatus of the character described: an upper housing; asupporting member within and carried by said housing; sheaves rotatableon said supporting member; a lower housing extending upwardly within andclosing the lower portion of said upper housing; means extending throughsaid upper housing and the upwardly extending portion of said lowerhousing in a direction parallel to the axis of said sheaves for securingsaid housings together; load supporting means carried by and dependingfrom said lower housing; and generally arcuate guide means on said lowerhousing conforming to and closely adjacent the lower peripheral portionsof said sheaves.

References cited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,713,586 Wright May 21, 1929 2,282,633 Young May 12, 19422,502,570 Johnson Apr. 4, 1950 2,513,990 Bennett July 4, 1950 2,536,417Black Jan. 2, 1951 2,556,165 Christensen June 12, 1951

